Shoe construction



Patented Feb. 6, 1923.- I

PATRICK F. MCNULTY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SHOE CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed September 25,'1920.. Serial No. 412,670.

To all whom-it may concern: Be it known that I, PATRICK F. MCNULTY; a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of '5 Manhattan, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Shoe Construction, of which the following is a full clear, and exact description.

' This invention relates to footwear and has particular reference to an improvement in the construction of shoes. The invention contemplates the provision of a shoe, scientifically constructed to effect the proper and natural growth of the foot of the wearer, and which functions to correct and cure defective and unnatural developments of the feet, occasioned by various causes.

Another object of the invention is to provide-a shoe having the shank portion of the sole constructed in such a manner as to prop erly and efficiently support the arch of the foot, to prevent or cure trouble resulting from the lack of atthis point.

A further object of the invention is to provide a shoe which functions to properly balance and arrange thepoints of contact of the foot whereby the weight of a person will be properly distributed on said points of contact.

to provide a shoe provided with means for separating the great toe from the next adjacent toe in order to prevent cramping of the digits and malformation of the same.

With the above recited and other objects in view, some of which will be more apparent hereafter, reference is had to the following detailed description, the appended claims and the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, and in which; v

Figure '1 is a perspective view of a shoe constructed in accordance with the. invention. a 1 Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view through the l wer ortion of the upper taken approximately on the line 2-2 of Figure 1. Figure 3 is, a transverse sectional view 50 taken on the lines3 3 of Fi'gures'l and 2.

Figure 4is' a longitudinal sectional "View on the line 44 of Figure 2.-

. Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view on the line 5-5 of Figure 2, Y

proper support of the bones A still further objectof the invention is- Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 2.

upper sections are stitched adjacent their lower. edges to the insole 14 to provide the flanges 15 beyond the point of connection of the upper to the insole. In order to provide means for separating the great toe from the next adjacent toe, a partition is provided, consisting of a strip of leather 16 bent upon itself and secured at the folded portion by the stitching 13 to the upper. The opposite free ends 17 of said strip are passed through a slit 18 in the insole and laterally .bent and secured thereto as illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawings. The strip 16 is disposed at an angle to the longitudinal center line of the shoe to provide an enlarged entering mouth to admit of the ready insertion of the great toe when drawing the Shoe in place on the foot. The tread member generally designated by numeral 19 is preferably constructed of felt or any other suitable material which is provided adjacent its rearend with a heel 20, the upper portion of which is depressed as at 21 to accommodate the heel of the foot. The heel portion of the tread member is connectedto the front or sole portion 21 by means of' a shank 22,

the lower surface of the center portion 23 of which is in alignment with the lower surface of the heel and front portion 20 and 21. The front or sole portion 21 is provided with the depressions 24, 25 and 26, the former being adapted to accommodate the ball of the foot lying directiy in rear of the great toe,

the depression 25 being adapted to accommo date the ball of the foot lying directly in rear of the'small toe and the latter depression 26 being designed to accommodate the portion of the big toe which contacts with the insole. In constructing the shoe the insole 14 is constructed to conform to the upper surface .of the tread member 19. By this arrangement it will be observed that the shank will properly support the arch of the foot to prevent the ordinary troubles such as fibroken or fallen arches. In practice, an outer covering sole 27' is provided as a tread surface to prevent wear on the felt sole and the sole 19 and outer covering sole 27 are sewalking.

cured to the upper by the stitching 28 which passes through the flanges 15, as clearly illustrated in the drawings.

In using the shoe, thestrip 16 together with the upper will function to properly position the major points of contact .ofthe foot in their respectlve depressions to insure an even bearing, and supportof the weight of the person. It will be observed from Figure .4- of the drawings that the thickness of vthe tread member 19 is reduced at the juncture of the front portion of theshank 22 with the sole portion 21 thereof from the depressions 24: and 25 to the toe of the same, in order that the bend in the. foot will occur at the proper place during the operation of The construction of the. bottom surface of the tread member 19 effects a contact ofthe same with the ground throughout its length to properly. support the arch asaving' thus described my invention, ll

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent;

1. A shoe embodying an upper and atread I member attached thereto, the latter constructed from a piece of material having inwardly and downwardly inclined cutaway portionsextendinginwardly from the opposite sides thereof to provide a heel, shank and sole, said shank having the central portion of its under side disposed'in the same plane with the under side of the sole and heel, the upper surface of said tread member having depressions therein and elevations thereon conforming to the natural 'configuration of the under side of the foot. to promote the proper growth thereof and articulation of the bones, andfacing strips covering the upper and under surface of said tread. member and conforming to the con-- figuration thereof.

a 2. A shoe embodying an upper and a tread member-attached thereto, the latter constructed from a piece'of resilient matee rialhaving inwardly and downwardly inclined cutaway portions extending inwardly from the opposite sides'thereof to provi e a heel, shank and sole, said shank having the central portion of its under side disposed in the same plane with the under sideof the member having depressions therein and ele vations thereon conforming to the natural configuration of the under side of the foot to promote the proper growth thereof and articulation of the bones, and facing strips covering the upper and under surface 'of I sole and heel, the upper surface of said tread said tread member and conforming to the configuration thereof.

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